Title : Detection of Explosive and Narcotics by Low Power Large Sample Volume Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR).

Descriptive Note : Patent application, filed 6 Jul 91,

Corporate Author : DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s) : Buess, M L ; Garroway, A N ; Miller, J B

Report Date : 06 Jul 1991

Pagination or Media Count : 13

Abstract : The present invention is directed generally to a method and an improved system for detecting nitrogenous explosives or narcotics improved system for detecting nitrogenous explosives or narcotics by nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), and more specifically, to a lower power method for detecting those materials. In order to limit the unrestricted flow of explosives and narcotics, it is designed to detect sub-kilogram quantities of those materials in monitoring stations. Most military explosives and narcotics share common features: they are crystalline solids containing nitrogen. Presently, the explosive detections system and methods cannot reliably detect sub-kilogram quantities of military explosives against a background of more benign materials. In conventional vapor-based systems, dynamites and contaminated explosives may be detected. However, military explosives such as hexhydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazene (commonly referred to as RDX and 2,2-bis(NITROXY)METHYL-1,3-propanediol, dinitrate (commonly referred to as PETN) are not reliably detected by the conventional vapor base systems especially when countermeasures are taken to reduce the effluent vapor and particles.